Lone Survivor

Rating:

Star5

Star

Star

Star

Star

"I'm a lover. I'm a fighter. I'm a UDT Navy SEAL diver."

Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images

“Lone Survivor” isn’t the kind of movie that you are rushing to see again, but it’s definitely the kind of movie you’d recommend. The war scenes are graphic and hard to watch mainly because you are reminded that even though it is a movie, real people risked their lives. Based on the book by Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell in a retelling of actual events, “Lone Survivor” has you holding your breath and at times, holding back tears.

Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) and his team Mike Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch), and Matthew Axelson (Ben Foster) are the Navy SEALs sent into a mission to capture a high-profile Taliban leader high in the dangerous mountains of Afghanistan. As the movie title tells us, all but one dies.

What unfolds in the two-hour movie is a tale of strength, courage, and heroism. We are able to see the true definition of teamwork and unwavering determination. The foursome are not looking out for themselves, but for each other. There are no blurred lines, just the mission at hand.

When the mission becomes compromised and the team finds itself in trouble, you never see panic in their eyes, but rather anger and fight. All men sacrifice for their team and then Marcus is rescued by the Pashtun village. The movie reveals interesting information about the history of the Pashtun and how their honor upholds a code thousands of years old. It captures the human part of war.

Since the movie is one where you already know how it ends, the unfolding story and the characters are what are the driving factors. Fortunately, the cast has a chemistry that make it believable that they were in battle together. This role for Taylor Kitsch made me sit up and recognize him as an actor. I never saw him in Friday Night Lights, so this was my first big introduction to him, and there is a charisma and calm power that exudes from him onscreen.

The quick pace of the movie, most of it battle, makes the two hours sitting in the theater fly by. It is not a feel good movie, but it is a movie that must be seen.

Final words: War heroes rightly get the spotlight for this harrowing film.

Share this article

Courtney loves being entertained by movies. While she is partial to romantic comedies and lists "When Harry Met Sally" as an all-time favorite, she will watch almost anything. Almost. There are a few classics that she needs to cross off her list, but she is ready to discuss all things movie-related and would love input from fellow fans as to what their must see movies are! For movie and event coverage email her at: hartmann.courtney@gmail.com.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation: Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation IMAX Featurette - Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate, an International rogue organization, as highly skilled as they are, committed...